Does matcha stain clothes? 🤔
If you’ve just spilled matcha on your favorite shirt, you need answers, and you need them quick!
With this guide, we’ll help you tackle matcha clothing stains step-by-step and show you how to get your clothes looking good as new.
We’ll take a look at why does matcha stain clothes and what you can do to get rid of matcha stains.
Let’s get cleaning! 🧽 🍵
Does Matcha Stain Clothes? The short answer: yes.
The answer is an emphatic yes. Green tea does stain clothes.
Matcha can definitely stain your clothes if you spill it.
But don’t worry! In the next section, we’ll show you how to prevent matcha stains and how to clean them up if accidents happen.
Then, we’ll take a closer look at why matcha stains clothing, so you can better understand what’s going on behind the scenes.
How to Remove Matcha Stains from Clothes
So what should you do if you spill matcha tea or latte on your clothing?
Here’s your simple, effective action plan.
🧼 Step 1: Move Fast
As soon as you notice the spill, blot the stain gently with a clean towel or paper napkin. Don’t scrub because scrubbing pushes the pigment deeper.
This is a crucial step in matcha stain removal.
💧 Step 2: Rinse with Cold Water
Run cold water through the back of the stain. Never use hot water. Hot water can set the stain permanently.
It’s a key part of how to remove matcha stain before it gets worse.
🧴 Step 3: Apply a Cleaning Solution
Mix dish soap or laundry detergent with cold water. Dab this solution onto the stain, working from the outside in.
This method is essential when figuring out how to get matcha out of clothes without harsh chemicals.
🪥 Step 4: Gently Rub the Stain
Use a soft-bristled brush or a clean toothbrush to gently rub the fabric in circles. This helps dislodge the matcha powder trapped in the fibers.
This technique is at the heart of matcha stain removal.
🔁 Step 5: Rinse and Repeat
Rinse with cold water and repeat as needed. Stubborn matcha stains on clothes may take a few rounds to fully lift.
Still See a Stain? Try These Natural Remedies
If you still see green after cleaning, don’t worry—there are more tricks for how to get matcha stain out of clothes.
🍋 Try Baking Soda & Lemon
Sprinkle baking soda over the stain and drizzle lemon juice or white vinegar. Let it fizz, then dab and rinse.
This DIY method helps break down chlorophyll and is a great way to tackle matcha stains naturally.
🧼 Use a Stain Remover
If the above fails, try an enzyme-based stain remover designed for fabric. Avoid bleach unless the fabric is pure white.
Still wondering does matcha come out of clothes? With these tricks, it does!
Why Does Matcha Stain Clothes?
So we’ve answered the question of does matcha stain clothes, but we haven’t answered why it stains clothes. The reason most teas stain clothes has to do with the tannins. Tannins are a type of polyphenol that is found in many different plants.
Historically, these tannins have been used as a coloring agent for things like leather. Black tea is higher in tannins and that’s why it stains more than green tea. Matcha happens to be very low in tannins, and yet it still stains so the question again becomes why does matcha stain clothes.
Why Does Matcha Stain Clothes if it is Low in Tannins?
The reason your spilled matcha stains your clothes green rather than brown is because it is not the tannins but the individual leaf particles themselves interacting with the fabric.
Unlike other teas, matcha is made from powdered leaves and it is mixed directly into water. This means that the leaf particles are suspended in the liquid and if it is spilled, they will end up on your shirt, for example.
Does Matcha Stain Clothes More than Other Teas?
So does matcha stain clothes compared to other teas? As we mentioned, black teas are notorious for staining clothes because of their high tannin content, but matcha tea can be even worse.
The reason for this is that matcha is made with such a rich concentration of leaf compared to other teas. In other words, when you spill a cup of matcha on your shirt, you are getting far more leaf material on your clothing than if you were to spill a normal green tea.
So does matcha stain clothing more than other teas? The answer is yes again.
If you want to see how matcha compares to a normal green tea like sencha, you can read this article 👉 Learn the Difference between Matcha vs Green Tea
Does Matcha Latte Stain More?
Yes, and here’s why.
A matcha latte contains milk and often sugar. These additional ingredients make the stain stickier and harder to remove. The milk proteins can bind with your fabric, and if the stain dries or is heated, it can "cook" into your shirt.
That’s why it’s even more important to treat matcha stains on clothes right away and always use cold water.
If you’ve ever wondered how to get matcha stain out of clothes, start with cold water first, not hot!
Are Matcha Stains Permanent?
Not usually!
If you act quickly and follow the steps for how to remove matcha stain, it should come out completely.
But if you let it dry or toss it in the dryer too soon, that matcha stain could become more stubborn. Prevention and speed are everything.
Which Fabrics Are Most Vulnerable?
Matcha stains on clothes are easiest to remove from:
- Cotton
- Polyester
- Linen
Delicate fabrics like silk or wool require extra care. Avoid scrubbing or heat. When in doubt, take it to a dry cleaner for proper matcha stain removal.
Final Verdict
So does matcha stain clothes? Yes. Should you be worried about it? No. As long as you are careful with your matcha tea, it is unlikely you will end up with a stain in the first place.
If you do end up with a spill on your clothing, there are quite a few tricks you have up your sleeve in order to fix it. So fear not! Even though you may be worried, you can go back to enjoying your delicious matcha tea in peace!
